Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)After a certain point the sheer number of princess and fairy books a children's librarian has to handle begins to feel oppressive. The crushing weight of all that pink and all that glitter and all those bows . . . you begin to feel great waves of pity for those little girls who AREN'T into all those things. The kinds of little girls you might find in books like "Miss Brooks Loves Books (And I Don't)". Where are the books for the little girl monsters of the world? Enter "Mostly Monsterly" a book that contains no princesses. No fairies. No glitter or bows or pink (excepting the occasional pig-tailed monster). That said, I'd bet your bottom dollar that you could hand this book to a princess-obsessed little girl OR a little boy who obsesses over single subject picture books, and still manage to capture their attention and win their hearts. It's cute, this book, but never makes even the slightest attempts to cloy.Look, no one's saying that Bernadette is not a monster. She looks the part (two toes, creepy necklace, etc.) and does the requisite amount of lurching, growling, and mayhem. However, Bernadette harbors what you might call a "deep... dark... secret." She has a penchant for sweetness. Whether it's petting kittens or baking muffins, she is only "mostly" monsterly. So when Bernadette starts school with the other monsters you might think she'd try to reign in her cutesy qualities. Not so much. Her classmates, in fact, are horrified as one when they see her attempt a group hug or croon into a microphone. Her cupcakes don't go over any better, and Bernadette comes to realize that though she is only mostly monsterly, sometimes you have to meet others halfway. So she'll make everyone in the class cards... but they'll be gross. And she'll get a group hug.... Underneath a monster pile-on. Sometimes she's monsterly and sometimes she's sweet and both are perfectly a-okay when doled out carefully.Some folks see this as a parable about learning to be true to yourself, and I suppose that's one way of looking at it. I'm more interested in the fact that this story is about how Bernadette doesn't continue to pig-headedly act against the will of the crowd, but rather she realizes that compromise is key. She could have just decided all other monsters were wrong and that she was right and continued to bake cupcakes with sprinkles. Instead, she finds a kind of middle ground with the other monsters. That monsterish instincts do not preclude other instincts as well. Note too the lack of any kind of an authority figure on the part of both the author and the illustrator. Sauer certainly doesn't make any mention of a teacher or professor holding Bernadette accountable for her individuality. Instead, Sauer (and Magoon by extension) make this a book about a kid interacting with her peers. It's about how you're perceived by a group, not how you're perceived by an authority figure. I think that's an important distinction to make. Magoon's challenge, as I see it, was to find a way to make his little monster simultaneously monsterish and adorable. We don't know the extent to which Sauer and Magoon collaborated (generally speaking authors and illustrators of picture books tend to have very little contact with one another). So it is entirely conceivable that Sauer's description of Bernadette ("Pointy ears, fangs, claws, tail, two toes, huge eyes, creepy necklace") were all Mr. Magoon had to go on. After that point he had to create a girl child monster cute enough to make her softer instincts plausible but monsterish enough to convince you that you weren't dealing with a human child or anything. He does a pretty darn good job, I have to say. The eyelashes and Ramona-esque haircut help but really it's the facial and body expressions that set her apart from the pack. That coy glance she shoots a rope, knowing full well that she is just moments away from cutting it. Or the sideways excited glance she shoots her classmates when they first spot her homemade cards. There's a subtlety to this little monster, even in the midst of her school assigned havoc.I would hand this to the girl that finds herself in a family of brothers only. I would hand it to the kid who finds his or herself to be the only sane person in a sea of disobeying twits. I'd give it to the kid who has monsterish instincts of their own, and the one who would never purposefully disobey but can at least give themselves permission to dream about it a little. Heck, I'd give it to everybody. It's not your usual "be yourself" moral, and I think that kids can seriously appreciate that. Worth inspecting closely.Ages 4-8.

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Most baby albums start with new-baby photographs. But for a little girl named Rain, her "forever family" album begins with her adoptive mother's trip to China to meet her. Told from Rain's point of view when she's "almost six," this sweet tale is graceful and eloquent: "Our eyes were different, but we could both see. Our lips were different, but we could both smile." There's no question that it was love at first sight: "I could see love in her eyes. So I gave it right back." Bridging both the generation and culture gap is Bo, the cuddly stuffed hippo who was once the mother's toy and now is a companion to Rain. This story presents a reassuring way to talk to young children about adoption: "Mom always says I was the best present she ever got."Terrific writing teams up with superb illustrations. The photo-album technique is perfect here, providing the highlights of this family-building process.One of the book's creators - who did adopt a Chinese girl - founded a company called As Simple As That™, which provides multi-media products that encourage children to understand and respect other cultures. Their tagline is wonderful: Celebrating What We All Share. Truly, this book is a celebration of love and life. [...]

A family's particular origin is only the start of what being "a family" means. In this heartwarming tale of family love and beginnings, Rain meets Bo and her new "forever" Mom and they become a brand new family. There are many kinds of families, but all families are forever. It's as Simple as That.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)I bought this for my daughters 2nd birthday. and I had no idea that it would help increase my patience with her. As a Mother of a child that stated more times then I could count "I can do it myself" a day. I found the all telling illustrations, cute repetitive text and interesting tasks the girl chose, to be very entertaining. and I believe this was one of the first books I heard my daughter read to her stuffed animal friends. While reading it I felt we came to an understanding about her ability and my need to 'let her do it'. This is one children's picture book I am glad I bought and not regretting the $ spent.

Emily Pearl can do lots of things by herself. But sometimes even resourceful little girls need help. Emily Pearl is a very big girl. She can pour her own juice. She can tie her own shoes. She can feed her goldfish. She can even curl her own hair. Whenever her mother tries to help, Emily says, I can do it myself! But even a very big girl like Emily can sometimes feel a teeny bit small, especially at bedtime when dark shadows creep across the walls of her bedroom. Lucky for Emily, her mom understands and gives her a helping hand. Young children will surely recognize themselves in Diane Adams s delightful, rhyming story of one child s determined quest for independence. Nancy Hayashi s charming illustrations complement the text, colorfully capturing the chaotic ups and downs in the life of a preschooler.

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Raj the marmalade cat has always been beloved by his owner, Felicity, and enjoys parading around Felicity's bookstore. Raj thinks he is a tiger, and relishes the attention from the children who frequent story time sessions until the arrival of a rival cat, Snowball. Snowball is a snooty cat with a mean streak, and plants doubts in Raj's mind as to his claims of being a tiger. Raj turns despondent and sad, causing Felicity to worry about him. The story eventually takes an interesting turn with a special intervention by Felicity. It is a cute story about a cat that learns to embrace its inner `tiger'. The charming illustrations and engaging text make this a fun book for young children.

Books make everything better. Being a bookstore tiger is hard work. There s much patrolling, and a lot of sitting in laps at story hour, and then there s sleeping in the window display. But Raj is up to the task. He is fierce and proud until Snowball comes along. The new cat in the bookstore informs Raj that he s just a marmalade kitty-cat. Times get tough, then, for the bookstore tiger. But bookstore and Raj owner Felicity, with the help of poet William Blake, knows how to fix things. In turn, with a very special book, Raj is able to fix things with Snowball. Paige Keiser s quirky, intimate illustrations invite readers to curl up and share a story with their own tigers or a friend.

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Celebrity Authors TAKE NOTE: This is EXACTLY the kind of book you are trying (and repeatedly failing) to write when you take pen to hand (or fingers to keyboard). Mathilda and the Orange Balloon is a story about a limitless imagination and having the courage to believe in one's self that is told in such a deceptively simple way that even the youngest listener will delight in the story. The plot is so pure and simple and wonderfully told that it deserves to be discovered on it's own. And, as I mentioned above, the theme is a common enough one in picture books. But, don't let this dissuade you at all. As someone who has been reading picture books for decades now, out loud at work, at home to my kids and to myself, I find that I am still amazed by the author who can tell a complete story and convey a unified idea, in a matter of sentences. Maurice Sendak's classic "Where the Wild Things Are" is often noted for this quality - a quality that MATHILDA shares. On top of this superb writing by de Seve, Jen Corace delivers magnificent illustrations. Her artwork brings the words to life, but also tells a story that goes beyond the text. And, Corace's illustration style is perfectly matched to de Sève's writing style - both are simple and elegant, yet rich and satisfying.I have already given this book as a gift and know I will give it many times more - it is a great new baby gift and a brilliant graduation gift! But, make sure you have it to read to your own kids first!

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)A well written tale of a young man trying to invent himself again with a change in school. Clever twists and creative storytelling make for an enjoyable read from start to finish. A real coming of age story of a journey to become comfortable embracing your identity. Loved it!

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Whatever your feelings on the war in Afghanistan "Words in the Dust" will make you think about this issue in a different way. While we, as Americans, view the war through the lens of politics or ideology, Reedy shows us Afghanistan through the eyes of a young girl named Zulaikha. While we debate war strategy and think of success in terms of the latest statement by General Patreaus or President Obama, Zulaikha hopes only for a chance to learn to read. While we obsess about transforming Afghan society on a large scale, this heartrending story shows the impact of transforming the life of one small girl. This book reminds the reader that the war is not, as much as we like think it is, about us... it is about Zulaikha and the other children of this windswept and unfortunate country. If you are looking for a book that shows the challenges facing the average family in Afghanistan and paints a beautiful picture of their hopes and dreams you cannot do better than "Words in the Dust".

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)I bought "Tubby the Tuba" for my 3-year-old son last month, and it has been an unexpected smash hit. He has asked to hear it several times a day every day since we got it. (He is also a fan of "Carnival of Animals" and "Peter and the Wolf," but "Tubby" has elicited particular fervor.) He has memorized his favorite passages, learned to recognize the instruments by sound and sight, and is now asking to see the orchestra. An unexpected surprise!

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)This was an excellent book for young children, making a wonderful bedtime story. The illustrations were adorable and the story intriguing. I recommend this book to everyone as it was very good.

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)My name is Charlie, and I am 8 years old. "Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie" is a very good book. It made me think of my first babysitter, Ina, because we moved away from her. In the story, the babysitter moved away from them. Eleanor said, "My hand missed Bibi," and my hand misses Ina. It's a sad, but happy story. I recommend it to anybody!Charlie, age 8

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)The story is really gentle and charming with a nice message that is relatable with young children who are starting to want to be more independent. Our 22 month old daughter can relate to all the things the little bear is doing. And the caring relationship with the parent is nicely portrayed. It is illustrated with soft watercolors. The graceful compositions and lighting make the book interesting to look at.

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)Lester Fizz has a problem. He is a member of a family where every one has exceptional artistic talent. There's Frieda, Winslow, Edgar, Cornell, Pablo, and Georgia just to mention a few. And their styles vary from everything from abstract painting to collections to photography.Lester's problem is that he hasn't found his style and medium yet. And he remains the only Fizz that hasn't been recognized as an artist. That ends one day when his Uncle Edgar (Degas look alike) advises him: "The way I see it, Lester, anyone can be an artist. Look at this sculpture. What do you see? What don't you see? What do you want to see?"Lester takes that lesson to heart and is delighted to discover that his talent is manipulating bubble gum. But his elation is soon quashed when he has to compete in an art contest against his nemesis, Cousin Cornell. A situation complicated by the fact that Lester looses a tooth right before the competition!Besides the humor inherent in bubble blowing as high art form, there's a real chance here for some art education and a darn nice theme, that sometimes you have to hunt around to find out what you are good at.My children (boy and girl gum enthusiasts; currently 6 and 8) really enjoyed this book I liked that various art styles were demonstrated and that there were representations of the artists and their works at the end of the book along with an invitation for kids to see if they can "I-Spy" the artists works on other pages.Overall, a good story, and an excellent opportunity to expose children to art. The AR (reading level) as given by Perma-Bound is 2.0 and the Interest Level is 1st thru 3rd Grade. Also, a Good Read-Aloud."He took a deep breath. His belly bulged. His tongue trembled. His limber lips labored and his fact turned fushia."Pam T~mom and reviewer at BooksforKids-Reviews. com

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)The magic charm books are so wonderful! The Artist's pallet was just as great as the other 10! A story of a little girl who knows what she loves to do! It's just great!

Average Reviews:(More customer reviews)On Those Runaway Days is a children's picturebook created especially to help teach children to see running away for what it truly is: a dangerous means of avoiding problems rather than learning how to confront and fix them. The straightforward text offers young readers simple means with which to constructively deal with problems instead. "When I feel scared or upset, that 'uh-oh' feeling starts inside me. It's a signal that reminds me to get out of the situation right away and find an adult I trust. My 'uh-oh' feeling is telling me this is one of those times. I need to stop running away and talk about how I feel." The simple color illustrations add a comforting touch to this highly recommended picturebook, ideal for parents (or teachers) to read aloud to children as a lead-in to talking about tough issues, and as a preventative to teach children about better options than running away before a crisis happens.

Here's help for all adults who want to talk to young children about personal safety. Written by an expert in child safety, this full-color picture book teaches kids (and helps adults reinforce) seven important rules to personal safety in a nonthreatening way. It covers topics like safe versus harmful secrets, safe versus harmful touches, and the importance of having a community of trusted adults to turn to for help. Emphasizing the "check-in" rule and teaching kids to trust their gut instincts, this book gives children the knowledge and confidence they need to make smart choices about their personal safety every day.